South of Manhattan consists of Jim Estes on rhythm guitar and vocals; Jackie Estes on vocals; Bill O’Hanlon on lead guitar and vocals; and Liam O’Hanlon on bass guitar and vocals, creating a recipe for music that covers many genres. The versatile group plays folk, country, blues, swing, rock and some bluegrass.
Over the years, Jim and Jackie and their former band, The Family Portrait, have opened for and performed with many well-known country artists: Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Asleep at the Wheel, Dottie West, The Mandrell Sisters (just to name a few). Their band was also chosen to be an opening act for a Las Vegas concert featuring such greats as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Steve and Edie Gorme.
Bill O’Hanlon comes from a musical family background. His father, a professional musician, taught his son about music, and Bill started to read and play music at the age of five. Bill played and sang with several bands in the New York area before moving to the west coast. He continued playing his guitar and joined with Jim and Jackie to form the nucleus of South of Manhattan.
Bill’s son, Liam, joined the group after college, rounding out the sound with his original songs, bass guitar and vocals.